Nomination and selection of Four Freedoms Awards Laureates

Everyone can submit a nomination for a Four Freedoms Award. An eligible nomination should contain an elaborate description of the achievements of the nominated person or organization in the field of (one of) the four freedoms. The name of the nominated person or organization will not be made public.

Between the Roosevelt Institute in New York, which organizes the Four Freedoms Awards ceremony in New York in the odd years, and the Roosevelt Foundation in Middelburg it was agreed that the Roosevelt Foundation will in principle only select non-American candidates for the Four Freedoms Awards ceremony in the even years in Middelburg. At the ceremonies in New York in the odd years in principle only Americans are honoured.

Selection of the LaureatesThe Board of the Roosevelt Foundation is responsible for the selection of eligible candidates and the choice of the Four Freedoms Awards Laureates for the Four Freedoms Awards ceremony in Middelburg. The Board is composed of at least three members and at most nine members appointed by the Board. The chairman of the Board is the King's Commissioner in the Province of Zeeland.

The selection process can be described (grosso modo) as follows:

April:

deadline for submission of nominations. Nominations received after April can be considered for the next Four Freedoms Awards ceremony;

April/May:

preparation of the longlist by the Director of the Roosevelt Foundation;

June:

assessment of the nominations on the longlist by the members of the Board and preparation of the shortlist;

September:

assessment of the nominations on the shortlist by the members of the Board and its advisers;

October – December:

The decision of the Board of the Roosevelt Foundation is final and without appeal. The Board seeks to achieve unanimity in its selection of the Laureates, but when this proves not to be possible the selection can be decided by a simple majority vote.

April/May:

presentation of the awards at the Four Freedoms Awards ceremony in Middelburg.

The candidates on the shortlist are also considered by the permanent advisors of the Board of the Roosevelt Foundation. The body of permanent advisers consists of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Security and Justice and the Director of the King's Office. In addition to these advisors the Board can appoint a maximum of three external advisors.

NominationsEligible nominations should include:

The name of the candidate. This can be a person or an organization;

An elaborate description and explanation why the candidate is considered by the nominator to be a worthy candidate for a Four Freedoms Award;